Steve Cohen: Normalizing Pakistan-India relations vital for United States

WASHINGTON, June 15: Stephen P Cohen’s new book on Pakistan–India equation, long-term benefits of a detente between the two nations, and ominous implications of a conflict between them for the United States, offers a profound but pragmatic analysis based on his half-a-century long experience with the region. Yet, in the highly charged political climate of South Asia, direct main stake-holders Pakistan, India and the people of Jammu and Kashmiris will all likely see the author’s assessment from sharply different angles.

Delving into the policies espoused by Islamabad and New Delhi on some of the sensitive and politically hyped up issues including Kashmir, the eminent scholar comes out with five major proposals conclusions in his book “Shooting for a Century: The India-Pakistan Conundrum.”

These include : Washington’s recognition that it has high stakes in de-escalation, a kind of rapprochement or subsequent normalization of relations…